[ad_1]
DThe message was clear: Chalifa Haftar wants to continue her campaign to conquer the Libyan capital Tripoli at all costs. In a television speech on Monday night, the eastern Libyan military leader announced that his “Libyan National Army” (LNA) would take over the government. The basis is the “decision of the Libyan people, with whom the power rests.” Haftar also annulled the Skhirat agreement concluded in 2015 through the United Nations. From this emerged the “Government of the National Agreement” under Fajez Sarradsch.
It is no secret that the warlord of eastern Libya wants to establish a military government under his leadership and implement it by military means. But the moment he officially announced it is remarkable: It falls at a time when Haftar is on the defensive. In recent weeks, militia militants fighting for the negotiated government had shunned Haftar’s troops, which had been besieging Tripoli for more than a year. Haftar’s opponents benefited greatly from Turkish drone attacks. Ankara supports the Sarraj government in Tripoli. The Turkish Navy had recently intervened in the fight, warships fired at ground targets. In the circle of international mediators, this had been understood as the “final message” to try to avoid Haftar’s victory with all his might.
The last act of a desperate man?
Haftar has now made it clear once again that he does not want to bow to the pressure of his opponents, and takes flight forward. “His initiative comes from weakness and fear,” says Mohamed Eljarh, founder and director of the Libya expert group Outlook Research and Consultancy, which comes from eastern Libya. “Haftar fears that he will no longer be able to continue his great project, the conquest of Tripoli.” He is concerned that his camp forces, for example in the House of Representatives, the counter-government parliament, face the negotiation process with the UN and the military setbacks. The government revitalize in Tripoli. An adviser to the Sarradsch government is already talking about the “last desperate act of a beaten man”.
It’s probably not that far yet. But Haftar made a dangerous bet. The counter-government camp in the east, now officially headed by the army chief, is as diverse as that of its opponents in the west. The warlord depends on tribes, local militias, councils, and administrators; Also to radical Islamists who reject political activism but want to subject society to its rigid morals. Supporters of the ousted Gaddafi regime are also part of their alliance. Part of the LNA is specially trained and comparatively well organized: Haftar has established a strict security regime in the east. But militias with their own lives and African mercenaries from Chad or Darfur are also fighting under the LNA banner. “Haftar will have to persuade,” says Eljarh.
Haftar Sponsors Don’t Want To Allow Erdogan To Win
The eastern Libyan military leader has again exposed his foreign sponsors. Moscow was “surprised”. From now on, it will be a little more difficult for Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to justify their support for Haftar, and at the same time defend a negotiated solution that her protégé does not want to allow at any price. The stubbornness of the warlord always costs his nerves. However, it is not at all clear that Haftar’s sponsors will stop supporting them and award Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a victory in Libya. Despite the external discontent of his representatives, Eljarh does not believe in it.
Western pressure was initially limited. In a statement from the US embassy in Libya, Haftar was called to agree to an immediate end to all hostilities and a permanent ceasefire. At the same time, however, Washington again contacted the warlord for talks. You could start talking again at any opportunity.
The will to negotiate can also be heard from the Federal Government: “In the opinion of
The Federal Government cannot resolve the conflict in Libya militarily, not even through unilateral declarations, but only through a political process involving all regions and population groups, “the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.” For this, an armistice is urgently required. “
